Dozens of Columbia University anti-Israel rabble-rousers were slapped with hefty suspensions and a handful were fully expelled after they took part in the recent violent takeover of a campus library and last year’s notorious tent encampment, The Post has learned.
More than 70 students are set to be punished for their involvement in the hugely disruptive Butler Library chaos that unfolded on May 7, as well as the encampment that popped up on the Morningside Heights campus in spring 2024, sources familiar with the disciplinary action said.
More than 80% of those will be hit with suspensions between one and three years, with the majority being hit with two-year suspensions, the sources said.
Anti-Israel protesters at Columbia were hit with suspensions and expulsions by the Ivy League institution Tuesday. REUTERSThose involved were informed of their punishments on Monday following a probe by the elite school’s University Judicial Board.
“Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community. And to create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institution’s fundamental work, policies, and rules,” a Columbia spokesperson said in a statement.
“Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences. The speed with which our updated UJB system has offered an equitable resolution to the community and students involved is a testament to the hard work of this institution to improve its processes.”
A rep for Columbia said it couldn’t release details on who was suspended due to privacy laws.
The move comes after the Ivy League slapped scores of students with interim suspensions soon after a mob of demonstrators stormed the elite school’s library — disrupting students who were attempting to cram for final exams and vandalized school property.
The keffiyeh-clad agitators were caught on camera chanting “Free, free Palestine” as they beat drums and clapped loudly.
More than 70 students are set to be punished for their involvement. REUTERSSome protestors defaced the library walls, marked tables with tape and unfurled Palestinian flags throughout the five-hour ordeal.
At least two public safety officers were injured by the mob’s initial surge into the library.
Acting Columbia president Claire Shipman ripped into the protesters at the time, saying she had no choice but to bring in the NYPD to help quell the violence.
Police hauled away 81 people during the violent rampage, including now-former Bloomberg News reporter Jason Kao and Columbia College student Ramona Sarsgaard, the 18-year-old daughter of actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard.
Both were slapped with a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing following their arrests.
The students learned of their punishments Monday following a probe by the school’s University Judicial Board. REUTERSIt’s unclear if Jake Gyllenhaal’s niece was one of those suspended or expelled.
US Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter, Isra Hirsi, was one of at least 108 rioters busted and slapped with trespassing summonses at the Gaza Solidarity Encampment that popped up at Columbia last year.
Non-students whisked away by cops included Fernando Bobis, 42, an internal medicine doctor in Washington Heights, known anti-Israeli protester Jesse Pape, 47, and serial agitator James Carlson, 40.
Two other non-students with prior run-ins – Nora Fayad and Amelia Fuller – were also nabbed in the chaos.
Barnard College student Maryam Iqbal, who was initially arrested at the Ivy League during the first attempt to clear out the encampment, was also identified as one of the people arrested in the police raids.
Another student, Aidan Parisi, 27, a postgrad student in social work at Columbia, was spotted being arrested in photos from the police raid.
